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2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

525 reports with mileage · 312 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 302 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

76 reports
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85,000 miles · Jan 4, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

SO I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IF I HAD TO READ A LOT OF STORIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE. MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN I GET A SIGNAL ON MY DASH AS I AM GOING UP A HILL SAYING THAT "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND I COULD BARELY GE…

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SO I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IF I HAD TO READ A LOT OF STORIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE. MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN I GET A SIGNAL ON MY DASH AS I AM GOING UP A HILL SAYING THAT "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND I COULD BARELY GET UP THE HILL. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT TIME OF DAY. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A STORE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A THROTTLE UNIT REPLACEMENT. IT IS SUPPOSED TO CONTROL MY ACCELERATION. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO KEEP HAPPENING AND NOTHING BE DONE ABOUT IT WHEN I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON IT. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY TOO AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11297075

84,000 miles · Dec 28, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

PRESS ON THE GAS AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO AN ALMOST STOP POSITION. WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET OR ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR DECIDES IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN. ALL ELECTRICAL REGARDING THE FRONT AND BACK CAMERAS HAVE GONE BLACK.

NHTSA ODI #11291709

65,000 miles · Dec 22, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON A LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR LOOSES SPEED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER BEFORE MY CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER PULLING OVER I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE STABILITY LIGHT COM…

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ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON A LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR LOOSES SPEED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER BEFORE MY CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER PULLING OVER I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. I GET NOTIFICATIONS ON EMISSION RELATED TO MY FUEL TANK EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL.

NHTSA ODI #11290703

49,120 miles · Dec 9, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR HESITATES FOR 15-20 SECONDS BEFORE TAKE-OFF. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GOES OFF AND THE DOME LIGHT GLITCHES. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES-ON. THE CAR HAS A REAL SLOW TAKE-OFF. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN JULY 2018 AND IT STARTED OVER IN THE LAST TWO-WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI #11288020

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I AM DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVY MALIBU WILL REDUCE SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DASH READS 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER'. THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOTES OF MANY TIMES I HAVE REPORTED.

NHTSA ODI #11287797

70,000 miles · Dec 5, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

EVERY SO OFTEN I GET A STABILITY CONTROL ERROR ON MY DASH AS WELL AS POWER ENGINE HAS BEEN REDUCED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ALSO EVERY TIME IT RAINS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GETTING WET FROM THE INTERIOR. ALL BACK REAR SEATS AND MY CEILING

NHTSA ODI #11287175

83,000 miles · Nov 11, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

BROUGHT THE CAR AUGUST 2019. BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS THE NEXT MONTH. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MY ENGINE LIGHT POPPED ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE READ, "ENGINE SPEED REDUCING." I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. NOTHING IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11279407

90,000 miles · Nov 4, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

THE CAR WHEN STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC HAVE STATED SEVERAL TIMES ITS DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES. IT SOMETIMES SEEMS AS IF IT'S DROPS IN SPEED WHEN DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHEVYLAND DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND A THOTTLE BODY INJECTION ISSUES THAT IRONICALLY MY CAR DIDN…

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THE CAR WHEN STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC HAVE STATED SEVERAL TIMES ITS DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES. IT SOMETIMES SEEMS AS IF IT'S DROPS IN SPEED WHEN DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHEVYLAND DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND A THOTTLE BODY INJECTION ISSUES THAT IRONICALLY MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE THE RECALL LAST HOWEVER THE SAME MAKE, MODEL CARS HAVE BEEN LISTED.

NHTSA ODI #11277961

49,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

THE HIGH MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT POPS UP AND HAS CAUSED LEAKAGE INSIDE THE VECHILE. ALSO THE ESC WARNING LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON UNDER REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN YOU PUT CAR IN PARK IT WILL STATE THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SHIFTER A LITTLE.

NHTSA ODI #11271572

989,000 miles · Oct 4, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE VA HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS COMING DOWN THE HIGH RISE BRIDGE IN DEAD TRAFFIC THE CAR CUT OFF THE BREAKS GOT STIFF IT WOULDNT START BACK UP THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON THE STEARING COULDNT BE CONTROLLED I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE ROLLING OUT OF CONTROL DOWN THE BRIDGE THANK GOD POEOPLE MOVED …

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AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE VA HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS COMING DOWN THE HIGH RISE BRIDGE IN DEAD TRAFFIC THE CAR CUT OFF THE BREAKS GOT STIFF IT WOULDNT START BACK UP THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON THE STEARING COULDNT BE CONTROLLED I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE ROLLING OUT OF CONTROL DOWN THE BRIDGE THANK GOD POEOPLE MOVED OUT THE WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD I STRUGGLED TO TURN THE STEARING WHEEL SO I WOULDNT GO OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND I FINALLY ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BRIDGE AND GOT ON THE SIDE I SAT FOR ALITTLE TRIED TO START IT THE BRAKES WAS SO STIFF THAT IT WOULDNT START AT FIRST THEN I PUSHED HARD AND IT STARTED BUT THE BREAKS DIDNT WORK AND IT WOULD ONLY GO 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR EVERY TIME I HIT THE BREAKS THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF I FEARED FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I HAD TWO MORE BRIDGES TO GO OVER UNTIL I GOT HOME AND BEEN SITTING AT HOME NO TRANSPERTATION CALLED CHEVY MATT BOWERS AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED PLUS PAY 135.00 DOLLARS AN HOUR FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK AT IM A DISABLED VETERAN I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW CAR THINKING IT WAS LIABLE TRANSPERTATION TO GET ME BACK AND FORTH TO MY DOCTORS I BOUGHT THIS CXAR BRAND NEW IN 2016 AND HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT IM NOT A HEALTHY MAN AND I DEPEND ON THIS TO GET ME TO MY DOCTORS I GET ALITTLE MONEY AND DIDNT BUY THIS CAR SO IT COULD BREAK DOWN THIS EARLY IN TIME I TRUSTED THEM WITH MY LIFE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS GETTING TO MY DOCTORS AT THE VETERANS HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS.

NHTSA ODI #11266434

Official recalls

9

21V649000 · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners; Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

Aug 20, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

Seat Belts:critical Fasteners

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

18V400000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 14, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

16V781000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 26, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16079.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

16V272000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)

May 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's number for this recall is 39440.

16V151000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 11, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 31820.

16V125000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 2, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.

16V084000 · Electrical System:software

Feb 11, 2016

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.